"Savior Agapios, you're an Ephemest, what are you doing so far away from home? I heard that Ephemestos is a beautiful Kingdom with happy people everywhere and that food is abundant. Is it true?" Agapios loved Thoman's behavior more and more.
"It's good of you to ask, Thoman. Always be curious but in a good way, hear me friend? As for why I'm here, I want to bring a change to this sickening world, I want the Humans to unite. Ephemestos is prosper and I've already done what had to be done there. The Kingdom of Thuren is taken over by darkness and so is The Kingdom of Loren, I shall be the light in their darkness. To be their light, to guide all those who have chosen the wrong path back to the right path. Isn't it threaling?" Thoman could hear and see the passion in Agapios.
"All the kids in Ephemestos get education, they have roofs on top of their heads, they have caring parents. The future they have is bright, the most educated Ephemests can get jobs in the Kingdom of Almundor. Food is abundant, every family has wine on the table. It's a paradise in the Human land." Thoman didn't expect Ephemestos to have so much things, envy was creeping in his heart.
The Kingdom of Ephemestos, also know as the Kingdom of Traitors, all Humans dream of living there but they also hate the Ephemests. Fifty years ago when the Orcs and the forces of Chaos invaded anew, Ephemestos build an enormous stone wall covering both their borders with The Kingdoms of Thuren and Loren. The Orcs ravaged Thuren and the forces of Chaos ravaged Loren. They plundered, r*ped and killed. they burned and destroyed, chaos was the only thing they left behind.
Having built this wall, The Kingdom of Ephemestos had completely cut itself from The Kingdom of Thuren and Loren. This made the two Kingdoms see the Ephemests like traitors. While the two Kingdoms fell into despair and more Chaos, The Kingdom of Ephemestos blossomed and prospered. The Elves of the great Kingdom of Almundor took interest in Ephemestos, they soon became trading partners.
"And then, from the Royal City of Ephemestos we built a large trade route that stretched west over the whole Kingdom until it connected with the Royal City of Almundor. Everyday, many merchandises from each Kingdom gets traded." Agapios didn't have a single trace of proudness when he explained all of this to Thoman.
"When they first built the wall, it was with the intention of protecting us, the Ephemests from the invasion. With the passing of years, the Thurens and the Lorens were not allowed in Ephemestos anymore. I say it's because of greed, they didn't want to share the newfound prosperity and riches they accumulated by trading with Almundor." the Ephemests were reputated to be arrogant and act superior when in presence of Thurens and Lorens. Thoman was already surprised when Agapios helped him due to him being an Ephemest, but he was now even more surprised to see how he wasn't acting like his kind at all.
"They call it 'The Wall of Prosperity', they should call it 'The Wall of Greed'! Thuren and Loren deserve the same prosperity, but they need to be washed out of all their corruption first." Agapios looked further in front of them, crows were flying and cawing. The environment turned darker and colder. The great stone walls of Lithen were more closer than ever to them, the queue of people waiting to enter was impressive.
"Savior Agapios, you should cover your hair. Those guards will kill you if they find out that you're an Ephemest. Yes....they will kill you without hesitation, the guards do not value life at all." Agapios could sense the emotions emanating from Thoman. He was terrified, he emanated something extremely cold. Thoman's bonny hands were trembling from fear, only the Gods knew what horrors he had endured in Lithen
"Calm down, calm down. Thoman, remember that I'm here with you. Do not fear, do not lose hope, stand tall as the power of light is together with you." Thoman was breathing faster, he was clearly panicking. Agapios already had his arm over Thoman as a support. He placed his hand on Thoman's chest and chanelled positive emotions into him.
"Kind sir, our mother is sick. Do you have a few coins to spare? We really need money for the medicinal plants." the voice of a little boy interrupted Agapios. It wasn't that serious considering that Thoman was successfully calmed down. When he looked at the direction of the voice, Agapios saw nine little boys. They were covered in filth, their hands were wounded and rasped. The wind was blowing, the wheater was pretty cold and the little boys only had enough cloth to cover their most intimate areas.
"Coins I do not have, I only have my sword and my long white tunic. What can I do to appease your mother?" Agapios said approximately the same thing the first time he met with Thoman and he himself had noticed it. The nine boys' expression turned angry, they didn't believe Agapios.
"You're a liar! You're an Ephemest, you must have so much gold coins that your pockets must nearly be exploding! Tch....if you refuse to cooperate, we'll be forced to do it." most of the people in the queue were looking at Agapios with hungry eyes, an Ephemest was like a treasure trove for them.
"I demand respect from you little boys. Yes, I'm an Ephemest! But does it mean that I've all the gold coins in the world in my possession? Forget about your anger and frustration, do not do what you intended to do. Killing an innocent man will taint your soul to the most profound layer. Bring me your mother, I shall personally take care of her." the little boys refrained themselves from taking their knives. Agapios' voice carried a certain authority, the nine little boys ran away from the queue.
"You spooked them, Savior Agapios. Let's not ponder too much about it. Those little boys seem clever, they will survive alone in the nature. We must focus on what is ahead, it's almost our turn." Agapios looked towards where the boys ran for a few seconds, he averted his look back in front of him.
Whenever it was someone's turn, the guards would ask for a name and surname. Sometimes they would even go as far as touching some of the peoples body for whatever purpose. After being touched and examined, some of the people were personally escorted inside.
"Name, surname! Age! Height! Weight!" the guards questions were now audible to Agapios and Thoman. It was weird to ask for the height and weight, it wasn't like it mattered. After the limping man answered all the required questions, it was finally their turn.
"Name! Surname! Age! Hei- Oh....an Ephemest!? How daring of you to adventure around this parts, Ephemest! Do you take us, Thurens for a joke? Maybe I should tell the Lord about it" in all honesty, Agapios was at loss for words. He didn't know what exactly he could say to calm the situation down.
"You know what? I don't give a fuck about what's going to happen to you. Let me tell you some, once you walk through the gate you'll be inside of Lithen and oh boy.....you'll get butchered!" the guard spat on Agapios' face when he was done talking. He could sense so much anger and jealousy emanating from the guard. Agapios wiped the spit off of his face and kindly nodded.
"I understand, kind guard. You have a nice day, I'll make sure to behave inside of Lithen." Agapios took one step forward before the guard pushed him back. This unexpected push nearly made him fall down together with the weak Thoman.
"Name! Surname! Age! Height! Weight! It's not because you're an Ephemest that you must think that the procedure does not apply to you!" Agapios felt really assaulted, there was so much hate just because he was from Ephemestos. Fortunately, he knew better. He cultivated his soul and mind for years, such things could not destabilize his strong self.
"Agapios Xenia, 35 years of age, 1 meters 90 and 93 kg." Thoman tried to straighten himself but failed, he spoke with his head down.
"Thoman Thuren Fathalt, 23 years of age, 1 meters 78 and.....I don't know how much I weigh." the guard had a mocking look on his face when he looked at the pathetic state of Thoman.
"It doesn't matter anyways, you're all bones! As for you, Ephemest. Normally, people like you are to be escorted in a separate area of Lithen. It'll be too easy if I get you escorted there, so go on now. Get out of my sight!" Agapios nodded and walked together with Thoman inside of Lithen.
For the first time after fifty years, an Ephemest had dared to set foot in Lithen.